The primary language spoken in Mexico is Spanish, which serves as the de facto national language and is spoken by over 99% of the population, making Mexico the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world
. Although the Mexican Constitution does not declare an official language, Spanish is used exclusively for government and legislative purposes
. In addition to Spanish, Mexico recognizes 68 indigenous languages as national languages with equal validity in their respective territories, according to the General Law of Linguistic Rights of the Indigenous Peoples passed in 2003
. The most widely spoken indigenous languages include Nahuatl, with over 1.7 million speakers, and Yucatec Maya, spoken by around 850,000 people
. Other indigenous languages such as Mixtec, Zapotec, Tzeltal, and Tzotzil are also spoken by significant communities
. English is also widely understood, especially in border regions and tourist areas, with about 10% of the population speaking it at varying levels
. In summary:
- Spanish : De facto national language, spoken by over 99% of Mexicans.
- Indigenous languages : 68 recognized national languages, including Nahuatl, Yucatec Maya, Mixtec, and Zapotec.
- English : Widely understood in certain regions.
This linguistic diversity reflects Mexico's multicultural heritage and ongoing efforts to preserve indigenous languages alongside Spanish
